Born in Alloway on the 25th January
1759, Burns is known world-wide for the superb expression, insight
and honesty of his work.
The son of a farmer, Burns' education
lasted until only his 9th year until required by his father
to learn to work the plough.
Despite poverty Burns read as
widely as he could and at eighteen discovered the works of poet
Robert Ferguson and beween tending his father and attempting
to run the farm turned his hand to poetry.
In 1785 he published his first
collection-"Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect"
and all 612 copies printed sold within a month. Surviving copies
of this "Kilmarnock Edition" are now worth many thousands
of pounds. After the publication of his second collection he
moved to a farm in Ellisland near Dumfries with his new wife,
Jean Armour.However after his crops failed and with a new baby
to care for Burns reluctantly took a job as an exciseman.
Over the next few years his
poetic works and songs flourished despite his continuing poverty.
In 1796 with worries of debt
hanging over him his health began to fail and despite his beloved
Jean's nursing died in July of that year.
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